The Gospel


The Gospel


(Glad Tidings)



John 3:16-19

For
God so loved the world, that

he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not

perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to

condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that

believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned

already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of

God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men

loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.



1 Corinthians
15:1-8

Moreover, brethren, I

declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have

received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in

memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I

delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ

died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that

he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen

of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred

brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some

are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.



Romans 3:23

For all
have sinned, and come

short of the glory of God;



Romans 5:8

But God
commendeth his love toward

us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.



Romans 6:23

For the
wages of sin [is] death;

but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.



Romans 10:9-13

That
if thou shalt confess with

thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised

him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto

righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the

scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is

no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich

unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord

shall be saved.
























Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Is Love a Robotic Act?


 

Is Love a Robotic Act?




An brief examination of mans' accountability, mans' response, and God's sovereignty



Mans' accountability


Love God and obey.

That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them (Deuteronomy 30:20)

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you (John 14:15-17)

Trust, know, believe and serve.

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee (Psalm 5:11)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:15-16)

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us (I John 4:16-19)

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent (John 6:29)

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin (Romans 7:24-25)

Love one another.

We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him (I John 4:6-10)




Man is commanded to love and obey God, and to trust God, know God, believe God, serve God, and to love one another.










Mans' response

Hard hearts kindle wrath.

But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts (Zechariah 7:11-12)

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him (Psalm 2:12)




Mans' natural response is to kindle (stir up) God's wrath (fury) by making his heart stone (hardening his heart), lest he hear God's law (and be converted;  Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple).


What shall we do?

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for [because of] the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:37-41).

Mans' commanded response is to repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.






God's sovereignty (complete rule)




God calls, and man receives His word to be saved. God does all of the saving work in salvation. Even if we allow that receiving God's word (hearing the law) is an overt act of man, (it is a moot point because), a dead man (Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13) cannot help himself. God does all the work—God grants repentance (II Timothy 2:25) and God quickens (Romans 8:11). Nevertheless, God declares that man must receive the word and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will (II Timothy 2:26).

Man is not programmed to love and obey God; quite the opposite, man is a lover of darkness (John 3:19) and unquestionably dead in his trespasses (Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 2:13). Thus, true love is not and can never be a robotic act.


By God's sovereign will, man must choose to stop his ears and harden his heart or to receive God’s word. And, God alone saves a helpless, hopeless, and spiritually-dead man crying out for a Savior.






Have you heard God's law and received His Word?
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYZw0dfLmLk&feature=youtu.be


 
Posted by at
Labels: ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)